Can-opener.



W. L. LOESSER.. v CAN OPENER. APPLICATION FI'LED AUG'. 2. i915. RENEWED AUG. 28. 1916. v

` 1,228,121. v Patented May 29,1917.

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' )NVE/vrai? WML/AM L. 05555,?

#ZAMM A TTOR/VE YS To all whom t may concern:

UNITED sTATEs IATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM L. Lonssmt or coiusfrocrt,t MICHIGAN.

CAN- OPENER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application mea August 2, 1915, serial No. 43,173. Renewed August 2s, 191e. serial No. 117,384.

Be't known that I, WILLIAM L. LoEssER, a citizen of the Unitedv States, residing at Comstock, county of Kalamazoo, State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Can-Openers, of which the following is a specification.-

-This invention relates to improvements in can openers.

The main object of my invention is to provide an improved can opener'which is very efficient and convenienttofu'se and one which can be very economically produced.

Further objects, yand Vobjects Y relating to structural details, vwill definitely appear from the detailed description to follow.

I accomplish the objects of myinvention by the devices and means described in the following 'specication VThe invention is clearly .defined and .pointed out inthe claim.

A structure which-isa preferred embodiment of my invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawingA forming a part of this specification, in which:

Figure I is a side view of'my improved can opener, it being shown associated with the top of a can indicated by dotted lines.

Fig. II is a detail top view of my im.

proved can opener, the handle portion being shown in longitudinal section."

Fig. III is a perspective view illustrating the manner of using.v my improved can opener on a can having a seamed edge.

Fig. IV is a front view further illustrat-` ing the manner of using my improved can opener, the can being shown in section.

Fig. V is a front view of my improved can opener still further illustrating the manner in which it may be used, the can being shown in section. Y

Fig. VI is a front view showing a manner in which my improved can opener may successfully used on a can having only a small seam. Y

Fig. VII is a detail end view showing still another manner of using my improved can opener. v

In the drawing similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawing, Inyl improved can opener comprises a. flat body 1 adapted to receive a handle formed of sections 2 arranged on the sides thereof and secured by rivets 3. The shank portion 4 is preferably 0'... upwardly oifset and terminates in a diagonally disposed portion 5 at its vfront end.

The blade 6 is downwardly offset below the diagonally disposed portion 5 of the shank with theA base of the blade joining the Y Patented May 29, 1917.

shank at the :rear of the diagonally disposed portion. The cutting edge .7 of the blade faces upward and is straight and slightly neilined from the longitudinal plane of the o y. .y `Disposed transversely above the blade is a fulcrum jaw 8 having a sharpv lower edge v9 provided with a notch 10, the notch being located at the outer side of the blade so that it may be engaged vover the cover of a can.

The corners ll of the notch are sharp and are 4 adapted to impinge the top and side of a can. The jaw'is turned laterally outward from the front end ofthe diagonally disposed portion 5 of the shank and is located Well toward` the-front end, of the blade, its sharp' vfulcrum edge being spaced from but quite close to the edge of the blade.

'In .use the blade is driven throu h the top of the can and shoved in well to t e base of the blade, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. I. The upward oifsetting of the shank permits this andjatethe same time the hand ofthe 'operator does not, come into contact with thel can. l

. As can tops vary greatly` in: the matter of.

the size of the seam orbead at` the edge the notch is made of vsubstantial size to accommodate the largest seams likely to be found. The opener can be tilted to suit the convenience of the operator orheld ina -horizontal position, and whatever'position it is held in the fulcrum jaw is sure to effectively engage either the top and side or the can simultaneously, the vside of the can or the top of the can 'and impinge the same so that there is little likelihoodfofthefcan opener slipping, which is of great advantage as accidents in opening cans Varev ordinarily caused by the slipping ofthe can opener.

. By forming the 'cutting-edge f the blade straight and with but a slight inclination or angle to the horizontal ,plane of the body of the can openerV a relatively long draw cut is secured and the upwardly offsetting of the shank permits the engagement of the readily obtained.

The rear side of the jaw is preferably provided with spaced rests 12, while the shank is provided with a forwardlyproyblade with the can so that the full cut is jecting spur-like jaw 13 coacting therewith when the can opener is used for removing caps from bottles or the like.

By providing a spaced rest 12 the opener: is well adapted for use on bottles having crowned caps or closures aswell as those having flat caps.

In Figs. II and IV I illustrate themeth'od of using my improved can opener on a can 13 having a seam or bead 14 of considerable size, the vcan opener being shown in an outwardly tilted position, such as is eective in manipulating the same to cut ina circle, the outer sharp corner 11 of the fulcrum jaw engaging with the side of the can.

In Fig. V the opener is shown onthe same type of can with the fulcrum jaw engaged with the top of the can. I

In Fig. VI I illustrate one method Y lof using my improved can opener on a can 15 having a small bead or seam 16, the opener being tilted so that one of the sharp corners 11 of the fnlcrum jaw yengages the side of the can and the other the top.

In Fig. VII the opener is shown on the same type of can 15 with the fulcrum jaw engaging only the top. This illustrates the great adaptability of my improved can opener which is adapted for use on various types ofk can, and even the most inexperienced user can use the same with satisfactory results. A

My improved can opener is very economical to produce, the body portion, shank, jaw and blade being an integrall stamping preferably of uniform thickness. The parts are all in the same plane eXcept the diagonally offset portion 5 of the shank and the laterally disposed fulcrum jaw thereon.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

A can opener comprising a body portion and an upwardly offset shank portion terminating in a diagonally disposed portion at its front end, an upwardly facing blade downwardly offset from the Vlower edge of the shank, the Iedge of the blade being straight and having a slight inclination from the shank, and a fulcrum jaw disposed transversely above the blade and toward its forward end and extending at each side thereof, said jaw being turned laterally from the diagonally disposed end of the shank and having anotch thereinpositioned at the outside of the plane of the blade and adapted to receive a bead or a corner of a can, the edge of the jaw projecting below the lower edge of the shank and being sharp throughout, there being sharp corners at the edges of the jaw and at the edges of the notch adapted to imping'e the side or top of a can.

In witness whereof, I'have hereunto set my hand and seal in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM L. Lenssen. [L Sg Witnesses C. W.l HALL, L. C'. WRIGHT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0.. 

